New US Citizens Sworn In At Joyful NYC Ceremony

18 September 2010

Jamaican-born Natisha Bowen smiles at her U.S. citizenship ceremony.

Hundreds of immigrants officially became American citizens in New York on Friday in a sometimes emotional ceremony of swearing-in and welcoming.

That is the sound of 165 newly minted U.S. citizens representing 48 nations of the world, pledging their allegiance to the American flag and what it represents.

It was just one high point in an hour long public ceremony that included the awarding of citizenship certificates, many congratulatory words, and much applause.

All those assembled put their hand-held American flags to rest and listened closely while New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg welcomed them.

"Whether you are originally from Palermo [Sicily] or Pakistan or Hungary or Haiti, today you are all Americans, and we are delighted that you have chosen the United States as your new nation, and New York City as your new home," he said. "So thank you for doing that. May God bless you all and may God bless the most wonderful country in the world, America!"

Like the nearly seven million others who have became American citizens over the past decade, all of Friday's honorees were required to pass an official citizenship test that demonstrated a basic knowledge of spoken and written English, and a working knowledge of American history and the Constitution.